Paul Ibe, the Media Adviser to former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Senate for its recent decision to remove Danladi Umar, the former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, over allegations of gross misconduct.
Ibe accused the Senate of showing preferential treatment to Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, claiming the Senate has failed to take similar action against him despite repeated allegations of partisanship.
In a post shared on his verified X account on Thursday, Ibe expressed disbelief at the Senate’s selective approach. He acknowledged that Umar had been a controversial public official but argued that Yakubu’s actions had demonstrated even greater bias and corruption, earning him a “gold medal” for partisanship.
Ibe raised concerns about the Senate’s failure to act on widespread calls for Yakubu’s removal, questioning why it was so swift to dismiss Umar, who had been screened by the Senate, while ignoring similar demands for the INEC Chairman’s ousting. He pointed out the inconsistency in the Senate’s actions, emphasizing that if it was easy for the Senate to sack Umar, there should be no hesitation in addressing concerns about Yakubu.
He wrote, “Yes, Danladi Umar, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), is one of the worst public officials of our time,” he wrote.
“But the gold medal for gross partisanship by any public official actually belongs to the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
“The question is, if it was that easy for the Nigerian Senate to sack Umar on account that any public official screened by the Upper House can be removed by it, why is it pussy footing in the sack of the INEC Chairman?”
